Short but heavy spell of rain handicaps Delhi

With most Blueline buses still off the roads, commuting was a major problem for most people in the Capital and the rain made things worse.

For most Delhiites, a sudden spell of rain on Tuesday afternoon was a reason to sigh and a nasty surprise, although it is the middle of the monsoon period. With most Blueline buses still off the roads, commuting was a major problem for most people and the rain made things worse.

"Although the number of buses has increased considerably since the weekend, there are still too few. Although I generally get an auto from Connaught Place to my home in Mayur Vihar, at a much higher fare, today because of the rain, it was more difficult to even get that," said Sarita Das, a student.

With the humidity increasing to an uncomfortable level on Tuesday morning, there was finally a short but heavy shower in the afternoon, during which the weatherman measured 34.8 mm of rain.

"There will be more rain in the course of the day in some parts of the city," predicted an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The total rainfall that the city has received in the month of July so far is 100 mm.

The lowest temperature recorded Monday was 28.3 degree Celsius while the maximum is predicted to hover around the 35-degree mark on Tuesday.